Liberty vs. Entanglement

Galatians 5

Introduction:

I’m 17 years old sitting in the driveway in my first vehicle as the sole driver for the very first time. Full of anticipation of what it will be look to be on the road alone. I recall the words of my dad as he came to the driver side window to see me off, before I rolled out of the driveway and onto the back roads of Baldwin Maine. Simply stated I was scared to death… but the lid had been removed.

Similarly in 2011 I found my self being dropped off in Nashua NH for my freshman year of college-now in a much larger city alone to navigate this next season of life without borders, protection and regulations that helped me. I had begun to experience the thought of liberty.

Paul in this text gives us similar words in chapter 4 when explaining that although a son is an heir he cannot fully use or pull from that inheritance until he has been released by the bondage of his father. That inheritance is liberty within faith.

Context: Paul here is writing to three churches of Galatia where he helped start get going and I think most likely revisited on his way back through before departing the area on his first missionary journey. Oftentimes we may think that Paul’s time with these churches was brief but I would like to suggest that he had been with them for a decent amount of time in their early days. If that thought it true then the amount of investment was also a decent amount. I have to image that this is not the first time they are hearing of Paul’s testimony and his past. Although this would be the first time they are reading it in a letter it seems to me that if time had been spent with them to any degree that Paul would have shared at least a portion of his testimony that is contained within Galatians. Paul is using part of his testimony and invested years in the study of the law to encourage and correct these churches. Galatians 1:6 makes it pretty clear to what the issue at hands is: “turning away to a different gospel” through the entrance and infiltration of the Judaizers.

Galatians 2:16 “16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

These Judaizers were people who were committed to the traditions of their fathers and ultimately the law. At the core they were promoting that if you did not abide by the Law of Moses then you are not really a believer of Christ. Additionally, within Jewish writings, the Jews historical attitude was one that viewed Gentiles as many things other than created in the image of God but rather intended as fuel for the fire in hell. Paul reminds them of the misguided zeal throughout his life.

Paul here is correcting this false teaching of adding things to In Christ Alone, through faith alone, and by grace alone. Paul reminds them of how the Lord worked in His life and what the intent of the law was:

Galatians 3:19 “19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.”

Today we are looking at the concept and teaching of Liberty vs. Entanglement.

Paul tees this up nicely in chapter 4 when describing the two sons of Abraham. One of out human efforts and “forcing” God’s plan to fulfill a promise and they other out of faith. One child is known as the child of bondage while the other is known as the child of freedom. This resembles the old and new covenant. The new covenant contains freedom through the Savior.

Galatians 5:1 “1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

What is this liberty? It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 4:4 “4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,”

Point #1: Entanglement turns into estrangement.

A) If your are not operating within the liberty of Christ then you are spiritually entangled with something. If you are concerned about being conformed to a system rather than the Saviour then you are entangled.

The difference between entanglement and estrangement is that you are first too close to something and secondly you are then too far from something. Entanglement being too close to something then turns into estrangement which means you have grown too far.

Entanglement is actually a term used within science and physics between two atoms that start intermingling quickly. This can oftentimes be the case with us.

Point # 2: Through Liberty we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith (Not now via the Law). This statement is used 5 times in the NT but all 4 other times refers to the return of Christ. Here it is addressing that our complete holiness will be fulfilled at His return-not now via the Law).

Point # 3: Love flows from a liberated heart in Christ.

(I.E. Reformed theology struggle). Liberty is the root and love is the fruit. Unity in Christ- Can we agree on the main thing?

Big Idea: “Liberty is guarded by truth and expressed by authentic love”.

Oftentimes we can find ourselves adding something as a pre-requisite to the Gospel or truth itself. We tend to enjoy having rules and regulations. (Leaven leavens the whole lump)- A jewish traditional saying. Notice how Paul is using this Jewish language to correct and guide these churches that have known jews involved! Leaven puffs up and rises the bread. Paul reminds us that he is not here to please men. He is an apostle of Christ not men. The law has a tendency to puff up.

Practical Example: On average millennials would rather show up to work and be told exactly what to do for every task rather than have the liberty to see the need and just do what is needed? They’d rather be handed a task card telling them exactly what to do. Do you know why? They use this phrase-”Then I am not going to be at fault”. “I can’t be blamed for anything if I follow the instructions perfect or do exactly what you say. In the workforce this is where some of the best experience and training is missed! From past experiences of success or failure-providing experience for the future.

Vs. 11-Notice Paul’s words. If all he preached was the law there probably wouldn't be much suffering or pushback. Instead preaching Christ there is. This is a reminder to you and I if we arent experiencing push back we may not be sharing, or we may not be sharing the true gospel. We live in a day that we try to make everyting easy. Receiving Christ involves a “turning around”.

As Noah and I saw while recently at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia we heard for many young not willing to take the next step of faith in their walk. A lack of commitment and the constant asking of “why” or “what are the details of the job description” rather than obedience through faith and walking because of the liberating Freedom that has been bestowed upon us as children of God. This freedom we speak of is not a freedom in our flesh but a freedom to serve Christ and others.

I was asked three times this week “if my religion doesn’t allow me to do this or that thing”. The question truly doesn’t bother me- its bugs me but it has nothing to do with the latter half of the question. It has to do with one word that commonly is used.

“Religion”

All around us, in our past, in the future people are prioritizing systems over the Saviour. Hebrews speaks to this by the way. This has been the main struggle with the Jewish people.

“Life is understood backwards but it must be lived forward”-H.B. Charles. This requires a sense of liberty.

Religion traps, it distracts, and it entangles.

More and More people are seeming interested in Orthodoxy (especially Eastern Orthodoxy). This late Byzantine church structure seems to be drawing people in towards the natural decay of the christian faith even here in America. However-it is wrong! People are being drawn to this liturgical reverent appearing worship.

Reverence can almost become too high like a superstition-which then any deviation becomes a violation of the worship. Church beware of this growing drawing.

Here in America churches have not covered Church history enough which is why this Eastern Orthodoxy becomes attractive. Praise the Lord we have a Pastor who enjoys church history. There is an authentic spirit here that needs to continue!

What does Liberty do for you and I?

1) It motivates and mobilizes

2) It has us focused on the main thing

Corporate companies have done surveys with their employees asking one main question “Do you feel confident that you can make a decision on your own, come up with ideas, be creative, and run to as task even if its not in your job title, and know that you won’t get punished?” Sure there may be times for realignment but does that employee feel like they can get involved, maybe push back to an idea… this is liberating freedom. Done right it is healthy for a company. The same goes for our churches.

What areas of our lives and ministries are presenting potential entanglements that estrange people from Christ?

Some of you young people are on the verge of graduating high school, heading to college or about to get married by the end of 2026. I want to encourage you that although these steps are going to be difficult at times-because of Freedom and Liberty in Him we are to press forward. The protection you have had has been removed, you’ve been trained, and now it is time you setup boundaries and convictions for your self so that you too can Stand fast in the liberty of Christ.

Christ’s example: Christ didn’t allow rules and regulations stop Him from ministering on even the Sabbath. The unclean people He didn’t turn away from. He ran to them.

Some of us may be sitting in that driveway or dorm room season anticipating what Freedom will be like while also not wanting to proceed-and remain within the confines of bondage. As a child I can look back and say I enjoyed all of the protection, borders, rules and so on. But I needed to drive that truck that day. Some of us need to move on from being entangled and estranging others from our focus on the law, legalism, and man made systems. Operate in liberating freedom through the Savior.

“Amazing Grace my Chains are Gone...I’ve been set free”

“Where the Spirit is there is Freedom”

Wild Game Feast is in 6 days where many people who do not know Christ will be with us at the local High School....

As my dean at Veritas Baptist College recently shared “Veritas (Stand for Truth) includes the concept of Libertas (Freedom and liberty from sin/ or something that distracts) but additionally freedom for something-to love and serve others. Big Idea: “Liberty is guarded by truth and expressed by authentic love”.